Minnesota Marches into Women's Frozen Four with 4-0 Win over Princeton
March 18, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The No. 4 University of Minnesota women's hockey team earned a 4-0 win to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four, on Friday (March 17) night at Ridder Arena. The Gophers will likely face New Hampshire next Friday night, March 24. Game time is to be determined.
Brittony Chartier earned the first NCAA tournament shutout, stopping 33 shots on goal. Chartier held the Tigers scoreless the entire night, including 15 shots in the second period for the win. It was her 14th win of the season and her seventh shutout of the year. Of her 33 saves, eight came on the Princeton power play.
The two teams went scoreless for nearly two periods of play. Minnesota finished the scoreless streak with a goal at 18:27 of the second period. Melanie Gagnon scored her second goal of the season. Gagnon rifled in a shot from the high slot as it went through the five-hole of Princeton goalie Roxanne Gaudiel. Whitney Graft assisted on the play as she passed the puck from the back boards to the high slot, where Gagnon was positioned.
The goal later proved to be the game-winner, the first of Gagnon's Gopher career. Gagnon's goal sparked the Gopher offense, as they scored three goals in the third period. Graft scored a goal of her own just :10 into the third period. Bobbi Ross won the third-period opening faceoff and entered the Princeton zone. She put a shot on net, while Graft was there for the rebound attempt. It was Graft's first career short-handed goal. Graft's goal came up one second shy of the NCAA record for fastest goal in a period. Natalie Darwitz holds the NCAA record when she scored :09 into the third period against Harvard on March 28, 2004.
Ashley Albrecht scored her fourth goal of the season and her first power-play goal of her career at 8:31 of the third period. Albrecht knocked in a rebound attempt, while Jenelle Philipczyk and Andrea Nichols were credited with the assists. The goal came on a four-on- three opportunity. Becky Wacker sealed the Gopher scoring when she tallied her seventh goal of the season at 13:02 of the third on a rebound attempt. Liz Palkie and Krista Johnson were credited with the assists.
With :38 remaining in the contest, a fight broke out in the corner. In the final :38, 14 penalties were called, including two game misconducts. Allie Sanchez and Princeton's Marykate Oakley each had four-minute roughing penalties and a game misconduct. Sanchez will be qualified to play in Friday's NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game. In all, Princeton was called for 15 penalties and 38 minutes, while Minnesota was called for 13 penalties and 34 minutes.
With New Hampshire winning, 3-1, and the Gophers winning 4-0, the NCAA Frozen Four is half set. Mercyhurst visits Wisconsin Saturday night (7 p.m.), while St. Lawrence hosts Minnesota Duluth (6 p.m Central).
Advancing teams will arrive in Minneapolis on Wednesday and start practice in Mariucci Arena on Thursday, March 23.
Tickets for the Frozen Four are now on sale at the Gopher ticket office. Tickets can be purchased online at gophersports.com or by calling 1-800-UGOPHER. The U of M ticket office will be open from noon to 5 Saturday, March 18.
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